£27m bid accepted: Arsenal completes deal for new Ronaldinho

Get up to date on Arsenal transfer news, injury updates, fixtures, not restricting reports on Arsenal Ladies and share your opinions on Goonerhead

Arsenal have been offered the opportunity to sign Brazilian midfielder Rafinha from Barcelona in a deal worth £27m this summer, according to Sky Sports News.

afinha – brother of Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara – is a product of Barca’s famous La Masia youth academy and he came through the ranks to break in to the first team set-up in 2014.

However, the 24-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular first team place but despite starting just 14 La Liga games last season the midfielder still manged to chip in with 6 goals and 2 assists.

Due to his lack of action, speculation has suggested that Rafinha may look for a move this summer in search of first team football ahead of the 2018 World Cup and he was non-committal about his future when quizzed last month.

Rafinha is quoted as saying by Sky Sports:

“My future is open and God only knows what will happen.”

Barcelona chiefs have publicly insisted that he wouldn’t be sold this summer but it appears they have a very different stance privately as Sky Sports claim that sources close to the player say the Catalans are ready to cash-in.

The news outlet says Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Rafinha with Barca understood to be willing to do business if an offer in the region of £27m is put on the table.